Conveyer



Au. 2Q, 1935. J. E. REGAN 2,011,827

CONVEYER Filed Sept. 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Q Q Q Q' 3.111 24 G Q 0o 0 Q Q Q Q Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i l l .1

J. E. REGAN Filed Sept. 2'7, 1932 Aug. 20, 1935.-

J. E. REGAN Aug, 20 i935 CONVEYE R 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1952i O l Aug. 20, 1935. J, E REGAN 2,011,827

CONVEYER Filed Sept. 27, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q N M '1 g I J W1 a l I 1fnv zzwf Jakrz Z: a172,

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER John E. Regan, Syracuse,N. Y., assignor to The Lamson Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application September 27, 1932, Serial No. 635,035

18 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in conveyers and moreparticularly in a conveyer system including a plurality of deflectors orother direction determining devices.

In systems of this type it is desirable to provide means under thecontrol of an operator by which the course of travel of each article isdetermined independent of the size, shape or character of the articles.One such means is disclosed in the patent to Spooner, No. 1,528,227,dated March 3, 1925, and the present invention is a further developmentof the subject matter disclosed therein.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision. of amechanism under the control of the operator and comprising a pluralityof chutes each adapted to receive an element such as a marble or pelletand a plurality of trips each of which automatically actuates a selecteddefiector or direction determining device, each trip being associatedwith a particular chute and being engaged by the element receivedthereby. Preferably, as will be hereinafter disclosed, the marbles orpellets received in the chutes are advanced into engagement with thetrips at a predetermined rate of speed, as, for example, by a slatconveyer.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of meansactuated by the deflector control mechanism for permitting the advanceof the selected article in timed relation to that marble or pellet bywhich the'course of travel of the article is determined.

Other objects will appear from a consideration of the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention and of the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention and in which;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a typical form of conveyersystem with which the control mechanism embodying this invention mightbe employed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away of one embodiment of thecontrol mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of such control mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2; c

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the control mechanism taken from theright;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one element of the control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side and end elevation of another element of the controlmechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a typical diagram 01' the electrical wiring which might beemployed in carrying out the invention.

The selected conveyer system shown in Fig. 1:

is of a well-known type comprising a main conveyer I0 and a plurality ofbranch conveyers H, H, I3 and M to which articles transported by themain conveyer are deflected by deflectors I5. Each deflector is advancedfrom the normal inoperative position shown in dotted lines to theoperative position shown in full lines by mechanism designated generallyby the numerals l6, each of which includes as an operating element asolenoid, and is held in such operative position by a latch H, which isretracted by a solenoid not shown. A barrier I8 normally extends acrossthe main conveyer ID to prevent the travel of articles and is held insuch position by a latch mechanism i9, one including a solenoid beinghere selected. These solenoids are indicated diagrammatically in thewiring diagram of Fig. 8. Adjajacent the barrier I8 is located thecontrol mechanism A by which, as will be set forth below, thedestination of each article traveling on the conveyer i0 is selectivelydetermined by an operator.

The control mechanism A comprises an elongated casing 20 in whichtravels a slat conveyer 2| over end sprockets 22 carried on shafts 23.The conveyer slats 24 are provided with a plurality of pockets 25, hereshown as apertures, in the present instance five in number, and arecarried by chains 26 which pass over the sprockets 22. Power may beapplied to the left-hand shaft (Fig. 2) through a pulley or gear wheel21. At the upper reach or run of the conveyer the slats travel overangle supports 28 and are thus held a predetermined distance below theupper plate 29 of the casing 20. The pockets 25 are adapted to receiveand carry elements, as for example marbles or pellets 30 fed theretothrough chutes 31 which lead to openings 32 in the plate 29 over thepath of travel of the pockets. Mounted upon the under side of the plate29 are guiding chan nels 33, the walls: ofwhich extend as shown in;

Fig. 4 at the sides of the marbles in the pockets and prevent theirescape laterally therefrom.

Mounted in housings 35 supported on the casing 20 are rock shafts 36,which extend across the casing and carry a plurality of rocker arms 31and 38. The arms 31 are fixed by set screws 39 to the shafts 36 (seeFig. 7), while the arms 38 turn freely on the shafts between collars 40(see Fig. 4). The shaft 36 of the first housing, beginning at the rightin Fig. 2, is provided with five rocker arms 31 and mounted in thathousing is a I circuit control device It positioned to be tripped by oneofthe arms 31. The shafts 36 of the other housings each carry onerockerarm 38 and one or more rocker arms 31, and there is mounted in eachhousing a circuit control device 42 positioned to be tripped by therocker arm 38 and a circuit control device 43 positionedto be tripped bya rocker arm When the marbles transported by the slat conveyer 2| arriveat the end of the upper reach they fall out of the pockets 25 into atrough 45, which is so inclined that the marbles are returned by gravitythrough a pipe 48 into a trough 41 from which they can easily be removedby the operator. In the typical wiring diagram shown in Fig. 8 thecircuit control devices 4|, 42 and 43 are all normally open circuitmakers. The circuit maker 4|, energizes a solenoid 50 of the barrierlatch mechanism i9, each of the circuit makers 42 energizes a solenoid5| of a deflector operating mechanism I6 and each of the circuit makers43 energizes a solenoid 52, which retracts a deflector latch IT. ,Anormally open switch 53 may be closed to keep the solenoid 50 energizedwhen the barrier I8 is not in use. The circuits set up when the variouscircuit breakers are tripped will not be described in detail, since theyare obvious from a consideration of the diagram in connection with thefollowing description of the operation.

In this description of the operation of this system, it will beunderstood that the slat conveyer 2 l of the control mechanism A travelsat a definite speed relative to that of the articles transported by themain conveyer, and that the lanes in which the marbles are carriedthrough the casing 20., designated as a, b, c, and d (see Figs. 2 and 8)are assigned to the branch conveyers II, 2, l3 and I4 and control thedeflection of articles thereto, while the lane e controls articles whichare not to be deflected. T 4

Assume that the barrier i8 is latched in position across the mainconveyer and that an article to be deflected to the branch conveyer I lis at the barrier, the operator then drops a marble 30 into that chute3| at the right end in Fig. 5 leading to lane a. The marble enters thecorresponding pocket 25 of a slat 24, is carried thereby along the lane,trips the rocker arm 31 on the shaft 38 in the first housing 35 andcauses it to actuate the circuit maker 4|, thereby energizing thesolenoid 50 of the latch mechanism l9, which releases the barrier I8 andallows the article to advance. The marble then trips the rocker arm 38on the shaft 36 in the second housing andcauses it to actuate thecircuit maker 42, thereby energizing the solenoid 59 of the mechanismIt, which operates the first deflector I5 and swings it into theoperative position in which it is locked by the latch mechanism |1 sothat the article will be deflected onto the branch conveyer The marbleis carried to the end of the casing, dropped into the trough 45 andreturned to the operator. If the next article is also to be deflected tothe branch conveyer Ii another marble is dropped into the same chute 3|,but that marble merely acts to release the barrier, and its tripping ofthe arm 38 performs no function because the deflector l5 at thatconveyer is held in the operative position by the latch mechanism l1.When, however, an article arrives'at the barrier to be deflected toanother branch conveyer, for example conveyer M, the marble is droppedinto the chute 3| feeding the lane d, and as that marble passes alongthe casing it trips, not only the rocker arm 31 of the first housingtorelease the barrier, but also the arms 31 of the second, third andfourth housings actuating the latch mechanisms of the deflectors atconveyers I, I2 and I3 through circuit makers 4| and solenoids 52, andthus clearing the way for the article on the main conveyer. At the fifthhousing it trips the rocker arm 38 which, through the circuit maker 42and solenoid 5|, causes the mechanism I6 to close the deflector |5 atthe desired branch conveyer. Should the article be one to pass all thebranch conveyers, a marble is dropped through the chute 3|, whichconducts it to lane e and the marble traveling through that lane trips arocker arm 31 in each housing, thus releasing the barrier l8 and each ofthe deflectors I5.

Since there is only one rocker arm 38 in any housing they are mounted toswing freely upon their shafts. The rocker arms 31, however, are allfixed on the shafts and hence the tripping of any rocker arm in ahousing causes the actuation of the circuit breaker 43 in such housing.It will be noted that the marbles traveling in each lane act not only torelease the barrier and actuate the deflector of the desired branchconveyer but also to render the deflectors of the intermediate branchconveyers inoperative, thus clearing the way for the articles andinsuring their uninterrupted travel to the proper branch conveyer orpast all the branch conveyers.

When the switch 53 is closed the barrier I. remains open and under theseconditions it is only necessary to drop a marble into the controlmechanism when the destination of an article differs from that of thepreceding article.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described indetail it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and thatother embodiments thereof may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, one or more branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerwith the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the position thereof, such mechanism including a barriernormally preventing the travel of articles on the main conveyer, one ormore lanes through which elements travel, devices in each lane trippedby the elements traveling therein, and connections between such devicesand the barrier and deflector position determining means whereby whenthe devices in the lanes are tripped the barrier permits the travel ofan article and such deflectors are set in the operative positions.

2. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, one or more branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerwith the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the position thereof such mechanism including a barriernormally preventing the travel of articles on the main conveyer, one ormore lanes through which elements travel, mechanism for causing saidelements to travel through said lanes at a rate relative to that of thearticles on the main conveyer, devices in each lane tripped by theelements traveling therein, and connec-- tions between such devices andthe barrier and deflector position, determining means whereby when thedevices in the lanes are tripped the barrier permits the travel of anarticle and such deflectors are set in the operative positions todeflect articles on the main conveyer.

3. Mechanism ior controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the Junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the position thereof, such mec including a plurality oflanes through which elements travel, each lane being assigned to aparticular deflector and to those in advance of that deflector, a slatconveyer for transporting the ele ments through the lanes at a raterelative to'tliat of the articles on the main conveyer, me for feedingan element to a selected lane as an article, destined to the branchconveyer to which articles on the main conveyer are deflected by theparticu lar deflector to winch the lane-is assigned, a 3 a certainpoint, and means actuated by said ele ment as it is transported throughthe lane for causing the position deter-g means of the particulardeflector to set that deflector in the op erative position and causingthe position deter mining means of the advance deflectors to set in theinoperative position any of such advance deflectors as may at that timebe in the operative position whereby the article travels along the mainconveyer to the particular deflector by which it is deflectedundisturbed by any advance deflector.

4. Mechanism for controlling the passage or articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the position thereof, such mechanism including lanes throughwhich elements travel, a slat conveyer for transporting the elementsthrough the lanes at a rate relative to that of the articles on the mainconveyer, devices in each lane tripped by the elements travelingtherein, connections between such devices and the deflector positiondetermining means, one device of each lane being associated with aparticular deflector so that when tripped it sets that deflector in theoperative position and the other devices 01 each lane being associatedwith the deflectors in advance of the particular deflector so that whentripped any deflectors in advance which may be in the operative positionare set in the inoperative position, and means for feeding an element toany selected lane as an article in transit reaches a predetermined pointwhereby the deflector associated therewith is set in the operativeposition and the deflectors in advance of that deflector are in theinoperative position and the article travels undisdisturbed untildeflected by the deflector associated with that lane.

' traveling therein, connections between one of the devices in each laneand said deflector moving means and connections between the other of thedevices in each lane and the deflector latching means whereby thetripping of the devices in each lane by an element traveling thereinwill actuate the latch means of one deflector and the moving means ofanother deflector.

8. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerwith the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector for movingit into operative position, and means for latching it in such position,such mechanism including a plurality of lanes through which elementstravel, mec for causing said elements to travel through said lanes at arate relative to that of the articles on the main conveyer, two devicesin each lane tripped by the elements traveling therein, connectionsbetween one of the devices in each lane and said deflector moving meansand connections between the other oi the devices in each lane and thedeflector latching means whereby the tripping oi the devices in eachlane by an element traveling therein will actuate the latch means of onedeflector and the moving means of another deflector to deflect articleson the main conveyer to the desired branch conveyer.

7. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerwith the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector for movingit into operative position, and means for latching it in such position,such mechanism including a plurality of lanes throimh which elementstravel, a slat conveyer for' transporting the elements through the lanesat a rate relative to that of the articles on the main conveyer, twodevices in each lane tripped by the elements traveling therein,connections between one of the devices in each lane and said deflectormoving means and connections between theother of the devices in eachlane and the deflector latching means whereby the tripping of thedevices in each lane by an element traveling therein will actuate thelatch means of one deflector and the moving means of another deflectorto deflect articles on the main conveyer to the desired branch conveyer.

8. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerwith the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector for movingit into operative position, and means for latching it in such position,such mechanism includirg a plurality of lanes through which elementstravel, a slat conveyer having pockets therein which receive andtransport the elements through the lanes, chutes through which theelements are fed into the pockets in said slat conveyer, two devices ineach lane tripped by the elements traveling therein, connections betweenone of the devices in each lane and said deflector, moving means andconnections between the other of the devices in each lane and thedeflector latching means whereby the tripping of the devices in eachlane by an element traveling therein will actuate the latch means of onedeflector and the moving means of another deflector.

9. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom. a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, a barrier which prevents the advanceof articles over said main conveyer toward said deflectors, and meansfor holding said barrier in the article preventing position, suchmechanism comprising means for rendering said barrier ineffective andthus permitting the advance of an article, devices connected with thedeflector position determining means, and means for actuating saidbarrier rendering means and the device connected with the deflector atthe junction of a selected branch conveyer whereby that deflector is inthe position to deflect the advancing article into its branch conveyer.

10. Mechanism for controlling the travel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, a barrier which prevents the advanceof articles over said main conveyer toward said deflectors, and meansfor holdixm said barrier in the article preventing position, suchmechanism comprising means for rendering said barrier ineifective andthus permitting the advance of an article, devices connected with thedeflector position determining means, and means for actuating saidbarrier rendering means and the device connected with the deflector atthe junction of a selected branch conveyer whereby that deflector is inthe position to deflect the advancing article into its branch conveyer,said last-named means including a plurality of lanes through whichelements may travel, arms extending into said lanes to be tripped bysaid elements, which arms when tripped actuate said barrier renderingmeans, and means for advancing an element through a selected lane.

11. Mechanism for controlling thetravel of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, a barrier which prevents the advanceof articles over said main conveyer toward said deflectors, and meansfor holding said barrier in the article preventing position, suchmechanism comprising means for rendering said barrier ineffective andthus permitting the advance of an article, devices connected with thedeflector position determining means, and means for actuating saidbarrier rendering means and the device connected with the deflector atthe junction of a selected branch conveyer whereby that deflector is inthe position to deflect the advancing article into its branch conveyer,said last-named means including a plurality of lanes through which saidelements may travel, arms extending into said lanes to be tripped bysaid elements, which arms when tripped actuate said barrier renderingmeans and said devices, and means for advancing an element through aselected lane.

12. Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer. and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, such mechanism comprising operatorcontrolled means including a single actuator for determining theposition of the deflectors of a selected branchconveyer and 13.Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, such mechanism comprising devicesconnected with the position determining means of each deflector, andoperator controlled means including a single actuator for actuating thepositioning determining means of such devices whereby the deflector of aselected branch conveyer is set in the op erative position and thedeflector of each branch conveyer in advance of the selected branchconveyer is set in the inoperative position and an article traveling onthe main conveyer is de: flected to such selected branch conveyer.

14. Mechanism for controlling-the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, such mechanism comprising a pluralityof lanes through which elements travel, means for moving the elementsthrough the lanes, each lane being assigned to a particular branchconveyer, devices in each lane connected with the position determiningmeans of the deflector of the branch conveyer assigned to that lane andof the deflector of each branch conveyer in advance of the assignedbranch conveyer, and operator controlled means for supplying an elementto a selected lane, which element actuates the devices in the lane toset the deflector of the assigned branch conveyer in the opera tiveposition and the deflector of each branch conveyer in advance thereof inthe inoperative position, whereby an article traveling on the mainconveyer is deflected to the branch conveyer'as' signed to such selectedlane.

15. Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a deflector at the junction of each branch conveyerand the main conveyer, and means associated with each deflector fordetermining the positions thereof, such mechanism comprising a.plurality of lanes through which elements travel, means for moving theelements through the lanes, each lane being assigned to a particularbranch conveyer, devices in each lane connected with the positiondetermining means of the deflector of the branch con-. veyer assigned tothat lane'and of the deflector of each branch conveyer in advance of theassigned branch conveyer, and operator controlled means for supplying anelement to a selected lane, which element actuates the devices in thelane to set the deflector of the assigned branch conveyer in theoperative position and the deflector of each branch conveyer in advancethereof in the inoperative position, whereby an article traveling on themain conveyer is deflected to the branch conveyer assignedto suchselected lane, a lane assigned to none of the branch conveyers anddevices in said lane connected with the position determining of each ofthe deflectors, which devices are actuated by an element supplied tothat lane to set all the deflectors in the inoperative position, wherebyan article traveling on the main conveyer is not deflected to any of thebranch conveyers.

16. Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a normally inoperative deflector at the junction ofeach branch conveyer and the main conveyer, means associated with eachdeflector to move it into the operative position in which an article intransit is deflected from the main conveyer to a branch conveyer, andmeans associated with each deflector to latch and maintain it in itsoperative position, such mechanism comprising operator controlled meansincluding a single actuator for actuating the moving means of thedeflector of a selected branch conveyer and ior rendering inoperativethe latching means of the deflector of each branch conveyer in advanceof the selected branch conveyer to release such as may be in theoperative position so that an article in transit on the main conveyerpasses undisturbed to the deflector of such selected branch conveyer,and is deflected thereby to that branch conveyer.

17. Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a normally inoperative deflector at the junction ofeach branch conveyer and the main conveyer, means associated with eachdeflector to move it into the operative position in which an article intransit is deflected from the main conveyer to a branch conveyer, andmeans associated with each deflector to latch and maintain it in itsoperative position, such mechanism comprising devices connected with themoving means and the latching means of each deflector,

and operator controlled means including a single actuator for actuatingthe device connected with the moving means of the deflector of aselected branch conveyer to set it in the operative position and foractuating each device connected with the latching means of the deflectorof each branch conveyer in advance of the selected branch con-' veyer torender it inoperative and release such deflector or deflectors as may bein the operative position so that an article in transit on the mainconveyer passes undisturbed to the deflector of .such branch conveyer,and is deflected thereby to that branch conveyer. v

18. Mechanism for controlling the passage of articles through a conveyersystem which includes a main conveyer, a plurality of branch conveyersleading therefrom, a normally inoperative deflector at the junction ofeach branch conveyer and the main conveyer, means associated with eachdeflector to move it into the operative position, and means associatedwith-each deflector to latch it in its operative position, suchmechanism comprising a plurality of lanes through which elements travel,means for moving the elements through the lanes, each lane beingassigned to a particular branch conveyer, devices in each lane connectedwith the moving means of the deflector of the branch conveyer assignedto that lane, and with the latching means of the deflector of eachbranch conveyer in advance of the assigned branch conveyer, and operatorcontrolled means for supplying an element to a selected lane, whichelement actuates the devices in the lane to set the deflector of theassigned branch conveyer in the operative position and renderinoperative the latching means of the deflector of each branch conveyerin advance of the assigned branch conveyer whereby an article travelingon the main conveyer is deflected to the branch conveyer assigned tosuch lane.- t

JOHN E. REGAN.

